Apparatus for testing textile fabrics



Aug. 11, 1936. c. SIMON APPARATUS FOR TESTING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed 001;. 26, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 f INVENTOR.

Aug. 11, 1936. slMoN 7 2,050,976

APPARATUS FOR TESTING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed Oct. 26, 1931 Cub IN VEN TOR QMRLESLSIMON KSheets-Sheet 2 I Aug. 11, 1936. Q 5|MON 2,050,976

APPARATUS FOR TESTING TEXTILE FABRICS Filed Oct. 26, l9 5l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITE STATES roster.

APPARATUS FOR- TESTING TEXTILE FABRICS ration, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pa.,

a corporation of Application October 26, 1931, Serial No. 571,246

13 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful apparatus for testing textile fabrics, and it relates more particularly to a novel apparatus for testing the effect of perspiration upon the fastness of the dyes in textile fabrics, as well as upon other phases of durability of textile fabrics.

The object of the present invention is a testing apparatus for reproducing, with the greatest fidelity, all the physical and chemical conditions and influences to which textile fabrics may normally be subjected in garments or clothing in actual use, and for subjecting test specimens of textile fabrics to these simulating conditions and influences with the aid of the apparatus forming the present invention, so that the effect upon the specimens of fabric, per unit. of time, of each of the physical and chemical conditions or influences is equal to many times the resultant efiect normally produced by these conditions and influences in clothing and garments in actual use, so that the time factor involved in normal wear may likewise be simulated without actually requiring the normal amount of wear time in carrying out the tests.

With the above and other objects inview, the present invention comprises an apparatus whereby test specimens of fabric are repeatedly subject to the influences of abrasion, tension, beating, compression, constriction, expansion, distension, 30 heat and chemical action of reagents having chemical composition closely simulating the chemical composition of normal perspiration.

The present invention further comprises an apparatus in the use of which test specimens of fabric are formed into a continuous or endless web or belt, either with or without the aid of a supporting ply of other material, and whereby the endless'or continuous belt or web thus produced is subjected to the action of chemical reagents simulating perspiration and is moved continuously through squeezing rolls and is subjected to intermittent beating, varying tension, abrasion, compression, constriction, distension, expansion and heat.

The present invention further consists of apparatus including test specimens of fabric formed into an endless or continuous web or belt, passing between a pair of resiliently tensioned squeezing rolls and passing over resilient tensioning means and over intermittent beating means;said apparatus including means for first contracting or constricting the web or belt and then expanding or distending the same, and for applying liquid reagents at a predetermined rate, to said test specimens while the latter are in motion, and said,

apparatus also including heating means and means for measuring the comparative time, during which the test specimens were subjected to the series of conditions or influences.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I 5 have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at p esent pr f by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a test machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a sectional elevation of the same taken generally in line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a perspective View of a series of test specimens of fabric formed into a continuous or endless web or belt.

Figure 4 represents a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 represents an assembly plan view of a portion of the specimen belt.

' In carrying out the present invention, any suitable frame 5 may be provided, including opposite pairs of downwardly divergent legs 6 and I, forming the two sides of the frame, and suitable transverse connecting frame members 8 and 9.

At the top of the frame 5, a pair of coacting squeeze rolls I0 and. II are provided, upon shafts or axles suitably journalled within bearing blocks or members I2 and I3, and I4 and I5, respectively, on opposite sides of the frame. The bearing block members I2 and I3, which support the axle or shaft I6 of the lower roll I0, are preferably stationary within the outer upright frame members I1 and I8, While the bearing members or blocks I4 and I5 which rotatably support and carry the upper roll II, are vertically movable within and are guided by the frame members I! and IB, so that the distance between the axes of the rolls I0 and II may be variable. A suitable flat leaf-spring, generally of a semi-elliptical type, designated by the numeral I9, straddles the upper roll I I, longitudinally thereof, with its two opposed ends attached to or bearing down upon bearing members I4 and I5. A squeeze pressure lever 20 is provided directly above the roll II, and in a direction generally longitudinal with respect thereto, having one end thereof pivoted at 2| to the uppermost end of the upright frame member 22. An upright fulcrum member 23 is provided intermediate the center of the spring l9, and the fulcrum point 24 of the lever 20, so that the downward force of the weights 25 suspended from the free end 26 of the lever 20, will exert a substantially equally divided force or pressure upon the two ends of the roll II ;the weights 25 being removable to obtain varying pressures as may be desired.

A beater or fiagellator 21, consisting of a pair of opposite discs 28 and 29, carried upon acommon shaft 30, and including a plurality of equidistant and parallel beating or flagellating rods 31 intermediate the discs 28 and 29, is rotatably mounted on the frame members 6 and 1, as indicated particularly in Figure 2, by means of any suitable bearing members 32, affixed to said frame member. 7

Suitable sprocket wheels 33 and 34 are provided upon the shaft or axle I6 of the roll I0 and upon the shaft 30 of the beater 21 respectively, in operative alignment with each other. An idle sprocket wheel 35 is also provided upon a counter-shaft 36 carried in bearing blocks 31 and 38 supported on the lower frame member 8;said sprocket wheel being likewise in operative alignment with the sprocket wheels 33 and 34. Any suitable source of power, such as the electric motor 39 is suitably maintained upon the lower frame member 8, and is provided with a sprocket wheel 46, likewise in operative alignment with the sprocket wheels 33, 34 and 35. A continuous or endless sprocket chain 4| passes over the sprocket wheels 33, 35, 34 and 40, in succession, thereby operatively interconnecting each of these.

A horizontally disposed panel 42 is extended across the frame members I! and I8 and is affixed thereto, in operative alignment with the line of contact between the rolls l0 and II. One or a plurality of constrictor-apertures 43 is provided through the panel 42, with their centers substantially in horizontal, alignment with the contact line of the rolls l0 and II. The constrictor apertures 43 may be lined with suitable bushings 44, having a coefficient of friction with respect to the specimen belt-as may be desired for the particular tests. reduce the friction on the specimen belt, the bushings 44 may be formed of smooth glazed porcelain with suitably rounded edges.

A stationary guide and spreader rod 45 extending transversely of the machine, is suitably supported upon frame members,,and is provided for the purpose of guiding the specimen belt and for spreading the same open after it leaves the squeezing rolls, and for exerting any desired frictional influence upon the specimens.

One or more movable and resiliently supported tensioning rods 46 are also provided near the bottom of the machine, carried in suitable yokes 41, which are pivoted upon a pivot rod 48, and which are resiliently deflected ina downward direction by helical compression springs 49 operatively interposed between the frame member 8 and spring abutments 50' carried by the rods 5i, the upper ends of which are pivotally secured at 52 to the tensioning yoke members 41, respectively. In order that the tension of the springs 49 may be adjusted, as may be desired, the spring anchorage plates 56 carried on the lower ends of the rods 5|, are not immovably afiixed thereto, but are adjustably supported upon said rods by wing-nuts 53, which are threaded onto the, cor- Thus,--if it is desired to responding threaded lower terminal portions of the rods 5|.

The test specimens 54, as for instance specimens of lining materials, of any suitable uniform size, are aflixed (as by sewing) at suitable intervals, to a continuous band or belt 55 of duck or other fabric of suflicient strength to support the specimens during the tests. If desired, other materials may be interposed between the test specimens 54 and the supporting fabric belt 55, or the test specimens may be mounted directly upon the supporting belt 55 in the illustrations shown. Thus, for instance, a layer of wool or worsted material'cloth 56 may be shown interposed between the test specimens, (coat linings, for instance) and the supporting belt 55. So too, the test specimens 54 may be mounted with their faces exposed or with their reverse sides exposed, as may be desired.

The specimen belt may be a fabric belt sewn together into an endless formation, and the actual specimens to be tested are merely mounted thereon bysewing fast thereto along four edges. If desired, the edges of the specimen belt may be folded over onto the specimens.

The specimen belt 51, or the continuous or endless web containing the specimens, is mounted in the machine, as indicated particularly in Figures .1 and 2;the belt or web being laced through the machine'prior to having its two ends united to form the endless belt. Thereafter, the two ends are sewed together so that the belt may be continuous. 1

To an upper transverse frame member 58, up right supports 59 and 60 are secured, which in turn carry the transverse members 6| and 62, respectively. Suitable apertures are provided in the plates 6| and 62, and corresponding glass or other measuring vessels, such as burettes 63, are supported in the plates6l and 62, with drip nozzles 64 disposed above and in operative alignment with the specimen belts 51. Each of the vessels 63 is provided with a suitable stop-cock 65, by means of which the rate of liquid flow may be regulated. r a

In carrying out a test, a suitable and predetermined quantity of an acid solution of sodium chloride; lactic acid; and disodium ortho phosphate, of suitable concentration, is placed into the vessel 63 above the specimens to be tested, and the motor started by means of the control switch 66, (electrical connections between switch and motor are conventional, and hence not shown). The operation of the motor causes the specimen belt to travel in the direction of the arrows 61, at a suitable speed. The stop-cock of the solution vessel or burette is then adjusted-to permit the solution'to be discharged in drops of suitable frequency, and the machine is allowed to run for a given length of time or through a given number of complete passages of the specimen belt through the machine. The number of revolutions of the motor or the number of passages of the specimen belt through the machine may be determined. at all times by any suitable counter 68 mounted upon the side frame 6, the trip arm 69 of which is in operative alignment with a trip pin 10 carried by the sprocket chain 4| so that the counter is advanced by one witheach complete cycle of the chain. Since the ratio between each complete cycle of the chain and the linear distance travelled by the specimen belt is fixed, the counter gives a definite indication of the distance travelled by the specimen belt or the munanemone berof complete passages made by the specimen belt through the machine.

Directly beneath each of the specimen b'elts "5:1, an electrical heating lamp or unit H is provided, within suitable reflecting housings 12, for creating the desired thermal effect upon the specimens during test.

The specimen belt is permitted to run through the machine a suitable number of times for :"a suitable length of time while the predetermined amount of acid solution has been applied thereto, and thereafter, until the specimen "belt again .runs dry. Thereafter, a predetermined amount of an alkaline solution of sodium chloride, ammonium carbonate and disodium prtho phosphate, of suitable concentration, is placed into the vessel 63 above the specimen belt, and is applied slowly to the specimen belt while the same contil-mes to run through the machine. These applications of acid and alkaline solutions may be repeated if desired.

In carrying out these "tests, the specimen belt is first gathered or constricted by means o-fthe openings 43, and is passed through the squeeze rolls l0 and H in such constricted or gathered condition. Here, the specimens are subjected to wrinkling and pressure or squeezing, while under the influence of heat of suitable degree. After the specimens leave the rolls [0 and II, they pass over the stationary rod 45, where the belt is gradually spread out or distended into its original flat condition. The specimens then continue on to the beater 21, where they are subjected to the intermittent beating action of the beater rods 3| which not only exert a frictional effect, but also tend rapidly to vary the tension of the belt and hence of the specimens carried by the belt. The belt then passes beneath the tensioning rod 46, and again passes up to the constricting collars 46.

By adjusting the roll pressure, by means of the weights 25, and the belt tension by means of the wing nut 53, and by adjusting the amount and concentration of acid and basic solutions and the temperature applied, the conditions and influences normally encountered by the fabric being tested may be simulated or even exaggerated, as may be desired. So too, by adopting some particular fabric or fabrics as standards, and by adopting solutions of some standard concentration, and applying squeezing pressures and tensions of predetermined amounts, the machine may be calibrated so that the test results may be interpreted relative to the fabrics adopted as a standard. These results should indicate the relative dye-fastness of the fabric, the relative physical wearing qualities of the fabric, and the relative speed of deterioration or disintegration of the fabric.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I hereby claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Fabric testing apparatus including means for propelling a fabric specimen through a predetermined endless path, means in said path for alternately gathering the fabric specimen to form folds therein and means for spreading the same.

2. Fabric testing apparatus including the combination of -'a fabric specimen belt, propelling means adapted to propel said fabric specimen belt through an endless path, resilient means for exer' ting tension upon said fabric specimen belt while motion and eccentric rotary abrasive means along the path of travel of the fabric specimen belt and bearing against the same-and adapted to act upon the belt to abrade the same and alternately and repeatedly to increase and decrease the tension thereon.

-3. Fabric testing apparatus including the combination a fabric specimen belt, propelling means adapted to propel said fabric specimen belt through an endless path, resilient means for exerting a tension upon said fabric specimen belt while in motion, and a beater in the path of the fabric specimen belt, adapted to subject the fabric to successive fiagellations thereby to abrade the-same and simultaneously to vary the tension thereon by alternate and repeated increase and decrease of said. tension.

4. In fabric testing apparatus, an endless fabric specimen belt comprising a flexible conveyer portion adapted to carry the fabric specimens, and a. plurality of fabric specimens sewed to a face of said belt in succession with'respect to each other.

5. In fabric testing apparatus, an endless fabric specimen belt comprising a flexible conveyer portion of a woven textile material relatively stronger and more durable than the specimens to be tested, adapted to carry the fabric specimens, and a plurality of fabric specimens sewed to a face of said belt in succession with respect to each other.

6. Fabric testing apparatus including the combination of a fabric specimen belt, propelling means adapted to propel said fabric specimen belt through an endless path, means for creasing said fabric specimen belt at one zone through which it moves, means tending to straighten said. fabric specimen belt at a point further advanced in its path of movement, resilient means for tensioning said fabric specimen belt while in motion, and means for repeatedly varying the tension.

7. Testing apparatus for an endless fabric specimen belt including means for propelling said belt through an endless path, means for gathering a portion of said fabric specimen belt at one zone through which it is propelled to form folds therein, means positioned at a point further advanced in the belts path of movement for flattening the gathered portion, and means operating on the belt to transmit variations in lineal tension to said zone and said point.

8. Testing apparatus for an endless fabric specimen belt including means for propelling said belt through an endless path, means for gathering a portion of said fabric specimen belt and for flattening the gathered portion at successive zones through which it is propelled, and rotary means for subjecting said specimen belt to frictional beating to transmit variations in lineal tension to the portions of the belt instantaneously in said zones.

9. In a fabric testing apparatus, the combination of an endless test specimen belt, a constricting sleeve to gather the belt, a plurality of coacting squeeze rolls between which the belt is adapted to pass while in gathered condition, means to distend said belt after its passage through said squeeze rolls, a plurality of flagellating rods arranged about a common axis and rotatable therearound to intersect the belts path of travel and thereby repeatedly vary the lineal tension of the belt at the sleeve and rolls.

10. Fabric testing apparatus including means for compressing a test specimen of fabric, means for gathering said specimen meansfor distending said test specimen, concurrently operating means for beatings-aid test specimen and transmitting recurring fluctuations in 'tension through the material to the parts of the material instantaneously subject to the compressing and distending means, and means for moving said specimen to subject each portion of it successively and repeatedly to the action of the gathering, compressing, distending and beating means.

11. Fabric testingapparatus including means for gathering a test specimen of fabric into folds, coacting squeeze rolls operable to compress said fabric while still in thegathered condition, beating means concurrently operating on the fabric transmitting recurring fluctuations in tension through the material to the parts of the material instantaneously subject to the gathering and compressing means, and means for moving said specimen fabric to subject each portion of it successively and repeatedly to the action of the gathering, compressing and heating means.

12. Fabric testing apparatus including means for gathering a test specimen of fabric into folds, coacting: squeeze rolls operable to compress said fabric while still in the gathered condition, means for distending the fabric after it leaves the squeeze rolls, beating means concurrently operating on the fabric transmitting recurring fluctuations in tension through the material to the ;parts of the material instantaneously'subject to the gathering, compressing and distending means, and means for moving said specimen fabric to subject each portion of it successively and repeatedly ,to the action of the gathering,

compressing, distending and beating means.

13. Fabric testing apparatus including an endless fabric testing belt comprising a flexible conveyor portion adapted to carry a plurality of fabric specimens sewed to a face of the beltin succession with respect to each other, means for 20 propelling said belt, and means in the path of .the belt adapted intermittently to subject said 

